WORTCHECK, John F.

December 31, 2008

WORTCHECK, John F.

John F. Wortcheck, 85, of Bristol died on Christmas Day, December 25, 2008. Mr. Wortcheck was born in New Britain January 29, 1923, son of the late Francis and Eleanor (Luby) Wortcheck. He attended New Britain schools and Hillyer College in Hartford, taking courses in Real Estate and Business. John moved to Bristol to join the Accounting Department of the New Departure Division of General Motors. In 1942 he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps serving with the engineering company of the 4th Marine Division. He fought in the Pacific Theater where he was wounded twice and awarded a Purple Heart, a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Purple Heart, a Bronze Star and a Presidential Unit Citation for ``outstanding performance and extraordinary heroism in combat during the seizure of the Japanese-held islands of Saipan, Tinian, Marianas and Iwo Jima''. In 1945, after receiving his honorable discharge, Mr. Wortcheck returned to Bristol where he and his brother William J. Wortcheck, started the John F. Wortcheck Agency. John was a qualified real estate appraiser and consultant and his firm served the Bristol area in all phases of real estate for over 35 years. His agency was instrumental in the sale of 200 acres of land owned by General Motors, which enabled the City of Bristol to develop the property and create recreational areas for its residents. Mr. Wortcheck represented Bristol in the Connecticut State Assembly. He was also a member of the Planning Commission, the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Bristol. He served on The Board of Managers of the Wheeler Regional YMCA in Plainville and received several awards from the YMCA for his service to youth in the area. John was a corporator of the Wheeler Clinic, a member of the Bristol Association of Retarded Citizens, the World Affaires Center in Hartford and a Commandant in the Marine Reserves (ret). John is survived by his son Richard Wortcheck, his former wife and long time friend June Wortcheck and numerous friends in the Bristol area and across the country.

Funeral Services will be held Friday January 2, 2009 at 11 a.m. at the O'Brien Funeral Home, 24 Lincoln Avenue, Bristol CT. Friends and relatives may call at the funeral home from 9-11 Friday morning. Contributions in his memory can be made to the Bristol Association for Retarded Citizens, 621 Jerome Avenue, Bristol CT 06011-0726. www.